Postie who smashed opium gangs in China

LAWMAN Albert as officer in 1902

BY ADAM ASPINALL THE secret history of a British postman who became a detective in China busting opium gangs has been revealed.

Albert Aiers answered a newspaper ad to move to Shanghai and join the police at the age of 18 in 1902.

He rose to become one of the country’s top officers after smashing dozens of organised drugs rings worth millions of pounds, risking

his life to bring the criminals to justice.

Albert was rewarded with expensive silver trophies for his daring work.

He only returned to his home city of Birmingham in 1938 because his wife hated living in fear in Shanghai. She used some of his silverware to pay bills. Albert’s grandson Keith Franklin has put the other trophies up for sale and lifted the lid on his secret past. The 67-year-old said: “He was a post boy. But there was a heavy recruitment for Shanghai police, so he went for it. It was his thirst for adventure that drove him to do it.

“He was a detective and heavily involved in the investigation of opium gangs. You would be walking around with a revolver.

“He was tasked to take down opium gangs, which were massive in China.

“He used to tell me the place was totally lawless. He told me he took down the central robber gang, who were said to be very big at the time.”

Albert’s treasures, including a silver shield, a silver bowl and an album of Shanghai photos, goes up for sale at Richard Winterton Auctioneers on December 11. Richard said: “Albert’s story is fascinating.

“To think of the sheer nerve of someone aged 18 deciding to enrol in a police force in Shanghai and then to end up embroiled in dangerous investigations of opium gangs.”

KEITH FRANKLIN ALBERT’S GRANDSON